Seven Voices Every Entrepreneur Needs (And Three they ABSOLUTELY do not)
There are so many reasons people may dive into entrepreneurship, especially in the online space. For me I was drawn to this life because of the ability to see my own pace, to work wherever and whenever I wanted and the ability to be present with my three daughters.
And all of these things were indeed fulfilled when I started my own business. I was able to work the hours I wanted and I controlled how busy I am (especially once I figured out how to say “NO” from time to time.😉). I worked from the beach, from the lake, from our camper, from my car while I was waiting for my soccer players practice to end. I also found that working virtually and from home allowed me to see my girls off to school each morning and be there when they got home in the afternoon.
Amazing, right? Absolutely.
But I also discovered the not-so-fun part of running a virtual business. You spend a LOT of time alone. As an ambivert (someone whose personality has a balance of extroversion and introversion features) there are moments that I LOVE being alone and plenty of moments when I absolutely do NOT.
I realized very quickly that while it would undoubtedly look different from when I worked a 9-5 types job outside of the home, I needed to have people in my life. Voices that could speak into my life, my business. Voices that would propel my business forward through collaboration and interaction. Voices that would help me avoid stagnation and isolation.
Here are SEVEN voices I discovered I needed and I believe all business owners need as well:
The “every dream is possible” voice. These dreamers love seeing the big picture and don’t see ANY idea as “too much” or “too crazy”. These voices help you set aside the strategy and tactical elements for a little while to allow yourself to dream big.
The “have you through that through?” voice. This important voice will help you take that big dream and give it feet. This is so helpful to break down those big ideas into manageable steps to take you from concept to execution.
The cheerleading voice. When you’re busy and in getting things done mode, it can be easy to miss the growth you are experience. A cheerleader helps you take your eyes off “perfect” and notice the progress you’re making. Get a cheerleading voice to help you celebrate victories!
The “give it to you straight” voice. Those moments we are hiding from something or avoiding what we already know, this voice can help call that out. This voice needs to be a safe and trusted person, but it can be so helpful to get you out of that stuck place.
The coaching voice. While it doesn't have to be a hired coach, this voice is unique because they help unlock what already exists inside of you. They don’t give you a checklist or tell you what to do next (because they aren’t your boss), but they can intentionally help you move past the obstacles in front of you.
The commiserating voice. Sometimes misery does love company. And it can be so helpful to have someone who GET’S IT in your life. This is a tricky one because you don’t want to hang out here too long, but having someone who you can safely vent to helps you feel less alone at times.
The big sister or big brother voice. When we lean into the experience of those who have gone before us, we can learn through and from them! Having a voice of someone who can speak wisdom into your experience and business will help you grow at a faster rate.
I should point out that each of these voices doesn’t necessarily need to be a DIFFERENT person, but you should have these voices present in your business.
Now let’s talk about the three voices you should NOT give access to your business:
Negative Nancy. This is NOT the same as a commiserating voice or a “give it to me straight” voice. This voice is consistently pessimistic and disbelieving. It’s hard to keep this perspective from sinking into your own belief and we should be cautious giving them too much access to your life or business.
Jealous Judy. This voice can create a sense of feeling guilt or shame for your success or growth. If we’re not careful, giving this voice too much access can lead us to feel like we have to diminish ourselves or our victories.
Bragging Brad. This voice often will try to one-up your success or your idea. They also may try to diminish your victory by overshadowing with their own (as opposed to celebrating WITH you). Be cautious of where you give them access and how you lean into their voices.
Building your tribe and the community around you as an online business owner is a vital step in the sustainability of your entrepreneurial journey. Join my Socials from Scratch community on Facebook and start building that tribe today!
